When it comes to determining what’s right for energy efficiency, your budget and the environment, the choices can seem overwhelming. You already must decide between incandescent lightbulbs, compact fluorescent lightbulbs (CFLs) and LED bulbs, but now there’s a new technology in town — OLED lighting.
LED lighting and OLED lighting share more than most of a name, with both options being better for the environment and energy costs. However, they also have some very distinct differences. There are pros and cons to each when it comes to LED lighting vs. OLED technology.
What Are the Advantages and Disadvantages of LED Lighting?
Light-emitting diodes (LEDs) are semiconductors that create light when an electrical current passes through them and illuminates them. LEDs are not white lights, but are actually commonly red, blue, green or amber. The white light is created by mixing different colors and covering them with phosphor.
LED light is directional, unlike traditional incandescent and compact fluorescent (CFL) bulbs that produce light in all directions. This means that LED uses light more efficiently in some cases, but requires special engineering to create the same amount of light as other bulbs.
LED lights can last up to 50,000 hours, which is just under six years of continuous use. Of course, most people won’t keep a light source on continuously, so it’s actually more common for LED bulbs to withstand up to 20 years of use in an average household. They have an efficiency of 90-100 lumens per watt, and the average LED light fixture costs between $20 and $100.
LED lighting is very durable since it doesn’t have the fragile filaments that traditional light-bulbs do. It can withstand jarring, and some types resist precipitation and humidity making them a great choice for outdoor light fixtures. However, because it is so durable, it’s very rigid, which means it is not able to be shaped into unique designs.
What Are the Advantages and Disadvantages of OLED Technology?
Organic light-emitting diodes (OLEDs) are in the infant stages of advancement when compared to that of LED products. OLED lighting is comprised of an encapsulation layer that includes a cavity glass barrier, adhesive and desiccant, and integrated substrates that include a transparent conductive layer, the substrate and an out-coupling layer. These thin layers of organic compounds emit light through electric currents.
The organic compounds used to create OLED lighting are quite expensive, which means a larger price tag for current consumers. A basic OLED panel can cost $200 before any design element or installation factors are included, and some fixtures cost upwards of $10,000.
OLED fixtures create flat, dim sources of light in the shape of rectangles or squares. Because they aren’t very bright, they don’t require the use of reflectors or diffusers, which allows for more options when it comes to a fixture’s design. Since they are so flexible, they can bend into nearly any shape, allowing for nearly endless possibilities.
Current OLED models have an efficiency that ranges from 25 to 50 lumens per watt, and last for 30,000 to 40,000 hours, which is 3-5 years of continuous use. Just like LED lighting, however, most people won’t keep an OLED light on 24 hours a day, so the actual amount of time it should work is much longer. Although OLED hasn’t quite caught up to traditional LED lighting when it comes to efficiency and lifespan, it is important to keep in mind that the technology isn’t yet as advanced.
Despite the slightly slower efficiency and the higher price, OLED is still gaining in popularity, not only because of the design flexibility, but because the technology generates less heat and produces no ultraviolet (UV) rays, where LED still creates a very limited number of them. Currently, you are most likely to find LED technology in displays, such as smart products, and in portable lights, such as reading lights. Eventually, OLED will be more common as traditional lighting in homes, as well as for commercial purposes.
LED Lighting vs. OLED Technology: What the Future Holds
Even though traditional LED lighting is currently the clear leader in efficiency, lifespan and cost savings, this might not be the case in the near future. When basic LED first hit the market, it was more expensive and less effective, but technological advances have made it what it is today, and this is expected to be the same case as advancements are made in OLED technology. In fact, experts expect OLED lighting to be a $1.3 billion market by 2023.
One factor to consider is how the product is currently made. The cavity glass is costly and complex, and many companies are hesitant to produce it since OLED is still relatively unknown. However, as the technology advances, cost-effective changes can be made to the production techniques and materials. One expectation is that frit glass will replace cavity glass, and eventually, thin film encapsulation will replace the frit glass, which could lower costs considerably.
OLED technology could also advance to create color panels. This would mean having the ability to change the lighting color and brightness in a room based on the event, your mood or the time of day. While it’s true you can purchase incandescent bulbs in multiple colors, and that current LED products can change color, you have to change out the incandescent bulbs each time, and most LED products aren’t automated the way the OLED color panels are expected to be. Of course, LED lighting will have its own advancements over the years, so they could be automated in the future.
As more companies learn about OLED lighting and invest in the technology, and as changes occur in production, costs will scale to volume. Eventually, consumers will be able to purchase high-performing OLED lighting at prices that are affordable for the average household.
LED vs. OLED: The Final Verdict
Consider the fact that OLED is an embryonic technology when compared to the advances in traditional LED lighting, and consider that each lighting method has its own distinct advantages and disadvantages when it comes to brightness and design, and it’s easy to see that there is no winner in the LED lighting vs. OLED technology debate. Which source of light you choose depends solely on your own needs, design preferences and budget.
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